Baffled water bottle

Abstract

The invention is a water bottle intended primarily for distance athletes such as long distance runners. Internal to the water bottle is a series of baffles whose main body surfaces are located perpendicular to the longitudal (long) axis of the water bottle. The baffles are attached to the inner walls of the water bottle. The baffles are sufficiently rigid to arrest fluid motion minimizing the noise of water sloshing and energy loss due to fluid motion. The baffles are structurally attached to the water bottle in a manner that requires no central connecting structure and in a sufficiently rigid manner to arrest fluid motion during high intensity athletic events. The design may also incorporate a longitudinal baffle connected at near right angles to the previously described baffles or connected to partial baffles. Finally, the design may incorporate baffles that are non-planar (cup shaped).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] According to Greek legend, Philippides ran 24 hilly miles from Marathon to Athens on a hot summer's day in 490 BC. He ran to deliver the message that the Athenian Army had defeated the Persians. Totally exhausted, he died after the good news reached the city. This legend is said to have inspired the modern marathon in the Olympic Games. The first modern marathon was held in 1894 as a 26 mile race from Marathon to Athens commemorating the Greek Legend. [0003] Since these early beginnings long distance running has emerged as one of the largest participant sports in the world and the United States. Long distance running covers far more than the traditional 26 mile marathon, everything from 5 kilometer races to the ultra-endurance 100 mile runs such as the “Western States Endurance Run” which is going into its 31st year. In addition, other long distance and endurance sports such as the triathlon have emerged as popular ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013] Over the years various innovations in water bottle or hydration systems have emerged for the purposes of maintaining distance runners performance and health during long distance events. In addition, some canteen designs have addressed water slosh noise using baffles in the canteen. As far as it is known, prior to this invention no one has been successful in providing a water bottle which is (1) constructed of light weight materials, (2) can be used without stopping to drink, (3) employs drinking spouts that avoid spillage, (4) is easily worn or carried (5) provides a simple means of minimizing noise of water slosh and the associated energy loss from water motion during running and has (6) sufficiently rigid baffles to reduce water motion forces during running events.

[0014] This invention accomplishes all of these goals in new and unexpected ways and results in a water bottle which is simple in construction, light weight, easily carried in typical distance athletes water bottle holders and minimizes water motion noise and energy loss. From the runners perspective the water bottle is no different to use than any other standard water bottle eliminating any concern for potential malfunction of valves or other complex equipment.

[0015] The invention is a water bottle intended primarily for distance athletes such as long distance runners. The water bottle employs a baffle system directly attached to the body of the water bottle. The design can be either for a water bottle that is a rigid body or a semi-rigid body. Through the selection of light weight water bottle materials and light weight baffle materials, the bottle remains lightweight for use in distance running.

[0016] Because the baffles are rigid or semi-rigid and directly attached to the inner wall of the water bottle with the surface of the baffles perpendicular to the longitudal axis of the water bottle there are a limited number of baffles necessary and the design is robust enough to arrest fluid motion. In the semi-rigid water bottle design the baffles are semi-rigid and are attached and geometrically oriented to allow the athlete to easily squeeze the bottle to drink. The baffles are sufficiently rigid however to arrest fluid motion minimizing the noise of water sloshing and energy loss due to fluid motion. In an alternative design there are baffles longitudinal to the axis of the water bottle, connected to the remaining baffle plates or partial baffle plates. In an alternative design the baffles are non-planar (cup shaped).

Problems solved by technology

One of the problems with the traditional water bottle system, recognized in Swank, is the effect of the fluid motion caused by the swaying motion of the runner's body.

This fluid motion results in the annoying “sloshing” sound which everyone is familiar.

However, in achieving this goal the system requires a complex design consisting of numerous components such as a bladder, a check valve nozzle, a quick-connect socket, an outlet check valve and tubing.

Such a system is inherently more costly than a simple water bottle and subject to certain malfunctions, such as a faulty check valve which a water bottle is not subject.

However, the removable Leishman baffle system is relatively complex in design incorporating a central tubular core with this hollow core attached to fins.

In addition, the removable baffle structure, while sufficient for noise reduction during hiking or hunting lacks sufficient stability necessary for fluid motion during long distance running.

In addition, the design does not address the need to drink while on the move during competitive running.

Because of these design objectives the baffle system developed in Rookard is complex, heavy and divides a canteen into a number of compartments.

The baffles form a series of interconnected plates which results in an effective baffle system, yet one clearly not suitable for long distance running because of the weight.

In addition, there has been no accommodation in the design to allow for quick use by a runner engaged in running.

While this design is sufficient for noise reduction associated with hiking or camping, the design is not sufficiently rigid to address water motion to the degree necessary under the more vigorous motion for running.

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